44,000 schools will be developed in a phased manner, says Jagan

Amaravati: Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday said that the State government was taking up initiatives to overcome illiteracy.

He said the government was developing more than 44,000 schools in the State in a phased manner. In the first phase, nine minimum facilities were being provided in 15,000 schools.

English medium would be introduced from classes 1 to 8 from next academic year. The Chief Minister was speaking at a meeting with members of the NITI Aayog at the Secretariat on Friday. He said English medium will later be introduced for classes-9 and 10.

Under Amma Vodi scheme, every mother sending her children to school would be given Rs 15,000. This scheme would be launched on January 26. Quality education with all facilities will be provided in government schools, the Chief Minister said.

He said the objective of the government is to bring down illiteracy to zero level. Amma Vodi scheme would be a role model to the entire nation, he observed. The State government has also been initiating measures to eradicate malnutrition in children. "We are taking initiatives to maintain sanitation, cleanliness of drinking water and prevent unhealthy atmosphere," he said.

He revealed the strategy to provide water to the poor through Water Grid Project. "Anaemia is prevalent in tribal areas and remote areas. We have increased the quality of food being provided under mid-day meal, and at Anganwadi centres," Jagan added.

The Chief Minister further said that the State government was focusing on the health sector. People are spending huge amounts on health. "We are going to bring many more diseases under the purview of Arogyasri.

In particular, dengue and malaria are being brought into the ambit of Arogyasri. This scheme will be launched from December as pilot project in West Godavari district. We are developing all govt hospitals with national standards," he explained.

Jagan said that State government was suffering from some problems which were transferred by the previous government. "Earlier govt had introduced Rs 2.27 lakh crores budget, though it was Vote-on-Account only.

We kept the budget at the same level but made some internal changes. The State government gets income from State revenue and central taxes. There are FRBM limitations on debts. Under the circumstances, the Central government should not reduce the grants to the State." he urged NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary LV Subrahmanyam sought full support from NITI Aayog to Andhra Pradesh which has been facing a lot of problems following State bifurcation. The 15th Finance Commission and NITI Aayog should liberally help AP, he said. He urged the Centre to construct a steel plant in Kadapa.

He also brought to the notice of the NITI Aayog members that the State government has introduced Village Secretariat concept for decentralisation of governance. The government has been implementing transparent policies in governance.

The government t brought Judicial Preview Act for the first time in India. Ministers Buggana Rajendranath, K Kannababu, M Goutham Reddy, NITI Aayog Vice0Chairman Rajiv Kumar, delegation members and senior bureaucrats from the State government took part in the meeting.